One Way Ticket
I feel closer to God here. Nature certainly has a way of bringing the best out of you. The melanin in my skin rejoices each day as the sun baptizes me with its all-encompassing power. The Valley of the Sun is a fitting nickname for Phoenix. With temperatures settling in the low seventies in the middle of winter, I’m certainly not complaining.
As I sit down to write this piece, I find myself mesmerized. The scenery here is astonishing. My writing desk faces a large window at the front of the house with a view that recharges my soul. To my right, there’s a majestic mountain range that towers above my home. I’m at peace; all is right in my world. I can finally take a breath as these past few weeks have been a whirlwind, and for good cause.
Today, I reflect on the process that led us here. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and filled with joy. It’s difficult to put in words how I feel, but I’ll do my best. Being able to do something you’ve always dreamed of feels surreal even though it was apart of the plan. The moment we set foot in Phoenix almost seven years ago, planted a seed in our collective heart. We always believed this city would have a special place in our lives. In early 2020, we decided we were going to make the move. At that time, there were so many things up in the air, and with Covid raging, things became even more complicated. I refused to let the confusion stop us from doing what we’d planned to do. We decided to build our home in-spite of the challenges; we trusted the process.
By early 2021, with travel restrictions in place, flying to Phoenix every other month to check on the construction of our home was arduous at best. In September of this year, I contracted Covid which added yet another layer of complexity. Following my recovery, we discovered our storage unit, which contained most of our belongings, had suffered extensive water damage. So many of our items were destroyed. We powered through those frustrating moments and at the end of those trying times was the proverbial pot of gold. We watched a bare lot be transformed into our sprawling Spanish-inspired desert dream home. Seeing our ideas come to life is something that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. It made facing those challenges worth it.
If you’ve been on the fence about relocating, I hope these words encourage you to take the leap. Follow your heart where ever it may lead, even if that means changing zip codes. Even though I felt deeply connected to this part of this country, I dealt with moments of fear and uncertainty. Moving across the country is exhilarating as it is equally terrifying. There were so many unknowns. I definitely questioned myself early in the process. I extended grace to myself, as feeling emotional discomfort was a natural response to such a big transition.
When it was finally time to say goodbye to all we’d known on the east coast, I felt a sense of relief and overwhelming gratitude. Sitting on the plane with a one-way ticket west, was not only surreal, but it represented the completion of a goal we’d set years ago. If you have a dream, I encourage you to go after it with all of your might. Change can be scary, but it’s worth it. I promise you it is. Not being able to easily see the people you love is an adjustment. To be honest, that part is really hard. I’m thankful for the circle of family and friends who’ve supported this journey. Dreams really do come true, I’m living proof of that.